It’s not every day that you see a cat chilling in a specially made cat backpack, preparing to board a plane. A friend of mine sent me a video of this yesterday while he was boarding a flight from Denver to Los Angeles.

I thought I’d share it because the backpack was so cool (I’ve never seen one before but Amazon has plenty of them), and it seemed like the cat was a seasoned traveler. My friend, who flies several hundred thousand miles a year, said he’d never seen anything like it and had to do a double take when he realized there was a live cat in the backpack. At first, he thought it was a stuffed toy!
As someone who grew up with cats, I absolutely love it. However, I know that not everyone feels the same way. Some people are terrified of cats (it’s a phobia) while others are severely allergic. So, I understand how some passengers might feel uncomfortable with a cat on board. And if you have severe allergies, being trapped on an airplane with itchy, watery eyes, an itchy throat and constantly sneezing will be extremely unpleasant.
This situation raises an important question: What should you do if you’re allergic to cats and your seatmate or a nearby passenger has one? Here’s some advice:
1. Notify the flight attendants
The first thing you should do is let the flight attendants know about your allergy. They may be able to move you to a seat that’s farther away from the cat.
2. Bring allergy medication
If I were allergic to cats, I would definitely carry antihistamines like Benadryl or another allergy medication. Be sure to check with your doctor about the best options for you before flying and never take a medication for the first time while you’re in the air.
3. Cover your nose and mouth
If you can’t change seats, I recommend wearing a mask. Since the pandemic (and even before), I always carry an N95 mask with me. If you don’t have one, ask the flight attendant for a mask (they usually have surgical ones on hand). If they don’t have any, try covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or another piece of fabric. This can help filter out some allergens.
4. Ventilate and adjust airflow
Another thing you can do is adjust your air vent to direct airflow toward you. This can help reduce the amount of allergens in your immediate area—think of it as creating an invisible barrier between you and the allergens.
5. After the flight
Once you’ve arrived at your destination, wash your hands and face immediately. If possible, change your clothes (I always throw my airplane clothes in the washing machine immediately) and take a shower. This will help remove any lingering allergens that may have stuck to you during the flight.
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Animals have no place in the main cabin of an airplane.
What a cool carrier. It looks as if it has some sort of filtration system in it that may stop any allergic reactions from passengers, but I am not sure. I’m allergic to dog hair and I remember sneezing all the way from New York to Rome with a huge German Shephard next to me, so it isn’t just cats who cause these reactions. Maybe someday the airlines can create a “pet room” where all pets can have a safe flight without disturbing passengers. I know in the old days, the poor creatures were crated and put in the bilge. I almost lost a beloved cat on an international flight back in the ’90s, who arrived half dead upon my arrival home. Fortunately, she survived, but it was a trauma for both of us.